Tora ni Bau
Encyclopedia
There are three confederacies in the Fijian Traditional Government. Kubuna, Tovata and Burebasaga.
One of the two PARAMOUNT chiefly tribes in the KUBUNA Confederacy is the TORA NI BAU. The other is the VUNIVALU OF BAU.
The first known documented and installed TORA NI BAU was Ratu Virivirilau who was installed in Delaibatiki-Kubuna, Bau. Seven other TORA NI BAU were also installed and resided in Tailevu along the eastern coast of VitiLevu. The following eight holders of the TORA NI BAU title relocated and resided in the chiefly island of Batiki in the Lomaiviti province.
The traditional TORA NI BAU lineage was empowered by the strong traditional ties of warriors (BATI) which included the chiefly tribes of Waimaro in the Naitasiri province and Verata of Tailevu province, including other warrior tribes along the coast of Tailevu and Ra. From the Lomaiviti province, warrior (BATI) linkages were led by the warrior clans of Sawaieke in Gau, and Cawa in Koro island.
Traditional protocol between some Chiefs and warriors (Bati), is the Chief's abstinence of consumption of fish in the presence of warriors, and the abstinence of pork for the warriors in the presence of their chiefs. This is still somewhat practiced today, and was also one of the reasons the eighth TORA NI BAU, Ratu Isireli Mocelakolako relocated to the island of Batiki in the Lomaiviti group.
The TORA NI BAU is closely linked to the VUNIVALU OF BAU. This was strengthened by the marriage of Ratu Seru Cakobau's (eldest) daughter Adi Viniana to the (known) tenth TORA NI BAU, Ratu Josaia Loloma.
The following are known documented names of "installed" TORA NI BAU holders. ( NOTE: Title holders who were not traditionally installed are not named on this list).
Ratu Virivirilau - installed in Delaibatiki-Kubuna, Bau.
Ratu Sigaruarua - installed in Driti - Vugalei, Tailevu.
Ratu Vatucicila - installed in Nakorolevu - Namara, Tailevu.
Ratu Qiolele - installed in Nakorolevu - Nakoromakawa, Tailevu.
Ratu Sevanaia Vuinaruwai - installed in Nakorolevu - Nakoromakawa, Tailevu...(NOTE: Beginning of CHRISTIANITY, also note introduction of Christian name)
Ratu Josaia Milamila - installed in Nakoromakawa, Tailevu.
Ratu Vuiwakaya - installed in Nakoromakawa, Tailevu.
Ratu Isireli Mocelakolako- installed in Nakoromakawa, Tailevu. (Relocated to the chiefly island of Batiki, Lomaivit.)
Ratu Timoci Rakavali - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Josaia Loloma - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Emasi Caucau - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Jope Sigaruarua - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Isireli Mocelakolako Caucau - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti...(Former president of the Methodist church in Fiji and Rotuma).
VKB, FIJIAN HERITAGE
The title of the Tora ni Bau, which translates as Watchtower of Bau, was motioned by a Gudrunavanua, a high chief and warlord
from Sawaieke on the island of Gau
for his nephew Savai in the 18th century. Gudrunavanua feared that Bau posed a threat to the neighboring islands. A similar title and responsibility was created on the delta
village of Nabitu in Tokatoka by the Sawaieke Warlord. This had a strategic purpose as he was planning to launch an assault on the Rewan Roko Tui Dreketi
,the King of the delta villages. Gudrunavanua, who was of Samoa
n ancestry, was famous for bestowing upon himself the title of Takala-i-Gau, or ruler of the island of Gau. His successor was named Toravi Nadawa or guardian of Nadawa. It was Toravi Nadawa who brought the Tui Dreketi to his knees begging for his life in Nabitu.
One of the two PARAMOUNT chiefly tribes in the KUBUNA Confederacy is the TORA NI BAU. The other is the VUNIVALU OF BAU.
The first known documented and installed TORA NI BAU was Ratu Virivirilau who was installed in Delaibatiki-Kubuna, Bau. Seven other TORA NI BAU were also installed and resided in Tailevu along the eastern coast of VitiLevu. The following eight holders of the TORA NI BAU title relocated and resided in the chiefly island of Batiki in the Lomaiviti province.
The traditional TORA NI BAU lineage was empowered by the strong traditional ties of warriors (BATI) which included the chiefly tribes of Waimaro in the Naitasiri province and Verata of Tailevu province, including other warrior tribes along the coast of Tailevu and Ra. From the Lomaiviti province, warrior (BATI) linkages were led by the warrior clans of Sawaieke in Gau, and Cawa in Koro island.
Traditional protocol between some Chiefs and warriors (Bati), is the Chief's abstinence of consumption of fish in the presence of warriors, and the abstinence of pork for the warriors in the presence of their chiefs. This is still somewhat practiced today, and was also one of the reasons the eighth TORA NI BAU, Ratu Isireli Mocelakolako relocated to the island of Batiki in the Lomaiviti group.
The TORA NI BAU is closely linked to the VUNIVALU OF BAU. This was strengthened by the marriage of Ratu Seru Cakobau's (eldest) daughter Adi Viniana to the (known) tenth TORA NI BAU, Ratu Josaia Loloma.
The following are known documented names of "installed" TORA NI BAU holders. ( NOTE: Title holders who were not traditionally installed are not named on this list).
Ratu Virivirilau - installed in Delaibatiki-Kubuna, Bau.
Ratu Sigaruarua - installed in Driti - Vugalei, Tailevu.
Ratu Vatucicila - installed in Nakorolevu - Namara, Tailevu.
Ratu Qiolele - installed in Nakorolevu - Nakoromakawa, Tailevu.
Ratu Sevanaia Vuinaruwai - installed in Nakorolevu - Nakoromakawa, Tailevu...(NOTE: Beginning of CHRISTIANITY, also note introduction of Christian name)
Ratu Josaia Milamila - installed in Nakoromakawa, Tailevu.
Ratu Vuiwakaya - installed in Nakoromakawa, Tailevu.
Ratu Isireli Mocelakolako- installed in Nakoromakawa, Tailevu. (Relocated to the chiefly island of Batiki, Lomaivit.)
Ratu Timoci Rakavali - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Josaia Loloma - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Emasi Caucau - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Jope Sigaruarua - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti.
Ratu Isireli Mocelakolako Caucau - installed in Mua, Batiki, Lomaiviti...(Former president of the Methodist church in Fiji and Rotuma).
VKB, FIJIAN HERITAGE
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The title of the Tora ni Bau, which translates as Watchtower of Bau, was motioned by a Gudrunavanua, a high chief and warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
from Sawaieke on the island of Gau
Gau Island
Gau is an island belonging to Fiji's Lomaiviti Archipelago. Located at 18.00° S and 179.30 °E, it covers an area of 136.1 square kilometers, with a total shoreline of 66.3 kilometers, making it the 5th largest island in the Fijian archipelago. Its maximum altitude is 738 meters...
for his nephew Savai in the 18th century. Gudrunavanua feared that Bau posed a threat to the neighboring islands. A similar title and responsibility was created on the delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
village of Nabitu in Tokatoka by the Sawaieke Warlord. This had a strategic purpose as he was planning to launch an assault on the Rewan Roko Tui Dreketi
Roko Tui Dreketi
The Roko Tui Dreketi is the Paramount Chief of Fiji's Rewa Province and of the Burebasaga Confederacy, to which Rewa belongs.-Details on the title:...
,the King of the delta villages. Gudrunavanua, who was of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n ancestry, was famous for bestowing upon himself the title of Takala-i-Gau, or ruler of the island of Gau. His successor was named Toravi Nadawa or guardian of Nadawa. It was Toravi Nadawa who brought the Tui Dreketi to his knees begging for his life in Nabitu.